Discovery Barn at Whittington C of E Primary School March 18
An interactive education roadshow which only appears at a handful of events each year will be part of this year’s Staffordshire County Show, it has been confirmed.
The National Farmers Union (NFU) Let’s Talk Farming Discovery Barn, designed to enthuse children to learn about agriculture and where their food comes from, will be in place at the half term show on May 29 and 30.
In the year the Staffordshire NFU group celebrate 100 years, it is the first time the roadshow will feature at Staffordshire County Show at the Showground on Weston Road.
Richard Williams, chief executive of the Staffordshire and Birmingham Agricultural Society, said: “Year after year we apply for the Discovery Barn to come to Staffordshire County Show but there is always stiff competition as it only features at a very small number of events across England and Wales each year.
“We are thrilled to hear that this year is our year and we look forward to seeing the impact it has.
“There is so much on offer at the Show for families and children already, but this adds something a little special too.
“It will really enhance their experience and is yet another new attraction for the Show this year, which is shaping up to be a very interesting and enjoyable one for all those who attend.”
The Discovery Barn, which is aimed at four to nine-year-olds, was improved in 2017 and will teach children about food provenance and the work farmers do to produce great tasting, nutritious produce and ingredients.
It combines games and fascinating facts for children to learn on their own without teachers or assistance.
Jeremy Lowe, NFU Staffordshire county adviser, said: “The Discovery Barn gives children a fun and interactive experience, designed to get them excited about food and farming.
“The activities have been carefully created to educate them about the realities of farming, including livestock, tractors and technology.
“We wanted to offer a true representation of farming in a way young people can understand and we’re absolutely delighted to bring it to Staffordshire Show for the first time this year.
“2019 is an especially important year for us as it marks Staffordshire NFU’s centenary.”
Let’s Talk Farming and Back British Farming promotional items will also be handed out at the show, while a centenary display will also be in the main NFU marquee to mark the milestone anniversary.
The show programme is packed with attractions for children of all ages from youngsters who will enjoy the mud kitchen in the Woodfest area to teenagers who will be ringside for the revving engines of the Bolddog Lings motorcycle display team.
The ever-popular Country Pursuits area will have all manner of animals and activities to keep visitors entertained, like the popular quack pack and sheep show.
There will also be all the usual trade stands, craft and antiques fairs as well as a cookery theatre.
The Show is one of the area’s major events on the calendar and last year saw the busiest second day in more than 22 years, and there were 70,000 visitors across the two-day event.
Sponsored by South Staffordshire College and South Staffordshire Water, among others, the long-running Show is guaranteed to be a big one.
